Kamloops shot putter Greg Stewart won Canada’s first medal at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships.

The reigning Olympic champion in the F46 discipline won a silver in Kobe, Japan with his sixth and final throw of 16.14 metres, earning him a spot in this summer’s Paralympic Games in Paris.

“What a fun competition,” Stewart said in a post on Instagram. “Our sport has grown so much. The athletes competing are continuing to better our program and the Paralympic movement.”

“Congrats to all the athletes, 1st or 14th. Looking forward to building towards Paris 2024.”

Sachin Sarjerao Khilari of India won gold with an Asian record 16.30 metres while Luka Bakovic of Croatia, the leader entering the final round, won bronze with a throw of 16.04 metres.

The 2024 World Para Athletics Championships was Stewart’s first event since coming out of retirement, citing a “discomfort from being disconnected from the sport he loved.”

“Retirement was great, bought a house, proposed to my fiancé, started a good career, but sport was missing,” Stewart added. “I’m glad to have returned. Today was my return to international competition.”

The 2024 Paralympic Games get underway on August 28, with the F46 shotput final scheduled to take place on Sept. 4.